Kent Bush: Governor Sebelius shows true colors

Thursday

Jan 31, 2008 at 12:01 AMJan 31, 2008 at 7:57 PM

Well, what do you know? She really isn't a zombie. Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius' endorsement of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama was as different from her State of the State Address and response to President Bush's State of the Union Address as the weather Tuesday.

Kent Bush

Well, what do you know? She really isn't a zombie.

Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius' endorsement of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama was as different from her State of the State Address and response to President Bush's State of the Union Address as the weather Tuesday.

When people entered the gymnasium to see Obama, there were near blizzard conditions with a howling wind blowing heavy snow across the state. By the time the event ended, there wasn't a cloud in the sky and people returned to their cars on a beautiful brisk winter day.

It was the same with the governor.

Sebelius' televised speeches had been as inspiring as a sixth grade oral book report. Many criticized her, including The Daily Show's John Stewart.

You have to be able to take the heat when you step into the spotlight.

But everyone who criticized Sebelius should have seen her in El Dorado Tuesday.

She was late thanks to the tough conditions. But she took the stage after Obama finished his speech and rallied the crowd to a fever pitch.

She spoke highly of her friend and offered a powerful endorsement. She looked so much more at home in front of the large crowd than she does in front of a camera.

Gone was the stiff "I'm reading this" style. She fed off the energy and rallied those in attendance. It was too bad for Obama that the caucus was still a week away, because Sebelius had his supporters ready to mobilize.

It was no coincidence that Obama's campaign rolled through on Kansas Day to embrace the Midwest heritage that belies the idiotic gut reactions to a black man with a name that doesn't sound "American."

He presented himself the grandson of a man and woman from south-central Kansas. Obama is the only candidate to pay any attention to the state and certainly the only candidate who can look back on a Sunflower State heritage.

Obama wants to win Kansas as part of a Super Tuesday momentum swing. Sebelius' endorsement will go a long way to helping him achieve that goal.

Augusta Gazette

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